Many makeup artists have felt the negative impact of Corona Virus (COVID-19) on their business. No doubt customers and artists alike are wary of being in close proximity with strangers; and for customers specifically, wary of having products placed on them not knowing who has used them before and the cleaning processes used. Fair enough.
When the pandemic started, I did not touch my kit for months. When I finally did, and that was rare, I would use gloves and my face shield to ensure product safety. Luckily for me, my safety measures have kept me safe from the virus but I thought about things from a customers point of view.
My cleaning practices have always been thorough but I've added some further steps to prevent product contamination and been more emphatic about the safety measure I already had in place. Here are 4 things I do to prevent COVID-19 spread in my business:
1) Client Temperature Checks:
While it would seem obvious that someone would not book beauty services if they had a fever or a spontaneous cough; COVID-19 symptoms aren't always obvious at first. The fever may be mild before it spikes. On appointments I temperature check clients now before servicing. A contactless thermometer has been a prudent addition to my kit.
2) Brush Cleansing:
Brushes and sponges are essential parts of makeup applications. I do not reuse makeup sponges. COVID-19 makes the prospect of properly cleansing the sponge unlikely and it is not worth the risk. My brushes go through a 3-step process including normal cleansing, an alcohol spray, and then a barbicide dip. Read more about how barbicide fights COVID-19 here.
3) Downsizing:
When the virus first broke out, I wanted to make sure that I increase the chance of my products being safe in the face of potential contamination. It was crucial to downsize because there is no way to 100% guarantee anything. How awful would it be to take a huge jar of Laura Mercier setting powder to a client and then find out later that the person is positive for the virus?! As we all know, luxury makeup can be very expensive. For sterility and the sake of safegurding my bulkier products I decant my foundations, concealers (non liquid), and powders into travel-sized jars. These are the product most likely to be contaminated because I either can't spray them with alcohol or the container may be opened for a duration of time during the application. This is especially true for my MAC foundation because they don't have a pump, and for my cream color correctors as I may have to continually add product requiring me to open the jars multiple times.
4) Application:
During a makeup application, I usually have to be up close and personal with my clients. Besides my application tools, I dig into my kit products facing away from the direct application area or a distance from it, if possible. I try to always apply palette products this way as well. I dip into my eyeshadows away from the client and then apply and blend. Yes, this means that the application time is longer; but, it is necessary.
As an artist, customer care and comfort is one of the most important considerations I mold my business around. I am saddened by the amount of loss many people have experienced this year and thankful for the vaccine. Hopefully many stories can be re-built this year and forward on the tenets of love and happiness.
Barbicide Info Link: https://barbicide.com/barbicide-statement-regarding-human-coronavirus/
*Disclaimer - Barbicide may damage natural hair makeup brushes, be mindful of this before using.